Significance of Sharad Poornima

Sharad Poornima or Sharath Purnima is the full moon day in the month of October and is closely associated with Lord Krishna and Radha and Gopis. According to Srimad Bhagvad Purana, the famous Raas Lila of Lord Krishna with Radha and Gopis took place on the night of Sharad Poornima. In 2017, date of Sharad Poornima is October 5.

The showering of Bhakti Raas on the Sharad Poornima night by Krishna on Gopis and Radha has been a main theme for poets and philosophers and still continues to attract the fantasies of common man. The Sharad Poornima night is also seen as the night of love and couples come out at night to face the moon and express their love.

It is also said that the moon is close to the earth on the day and due to this the rays of the moon has several curative properties.

In some regions, Poha, puffed rice, and kheer, sweet, is prepared and left in the moonlight and is consumed later. In some areas, the full moon is not seen directly instead it seen on a vessel filled with boiling milk.

Sharad Poornima is of great significance in Mathura, Braj, Vrindavan and Nathdwara.